Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Advent – This weekend marks the first Sunday of advent. We light our first candle on the advent wreath on Monday. Advent is a time of preparation and as a school we will be preparing for the coming of Christ at Christmas, along with other visitors too.

BOM – Thanks for engaging in the Board of Management election process. An email was sent to all families on Tuesday last with an update on the Parent Representative element. New Boards officially take up office today. We will update the school community on progress by way of our weekly e-mail, next Friday.

PTM’s – Thanks to all those who participated in the Parent Teacher Meetings during the week; parents for their attendance and teachers for their preparation and participation.

Reminder – School will be closed on Thursday 7^th December to facilitate staff in-service in maths. The attached Breakfast Club & After School Service will remain open between the hours of 8am – 2pm. (Phone Helen on 083 2028749 for further information.)

MMR – Reminder that HSE staff will be onsite this coming Monday to administer Junior Infant MMR.

P.A. – Last chance to call to the Community Centre this evening to see if any Christmas jumpers remain. Event ends at 5pm.

Carol Service – Rehearsals are in full swing for both performances in the coming weeks. Just to recap.

Juniors / Rang 2 – Nire Church, Thurs 14^th Dec. at 7pm.

Rang 3 / Rang 6 – FMW Church, Thurs 21^st Dec. at 7 pm.

Christmas Day Mass Nire – Please note that carol practice will take place this Sunday after Nire 11am mass in preparation for Christmas Day Carol Service. Banna Ceoil members and children welcome.

Christmas Fair – A special visitor will call to the Nire Hall, I’m told, this Sunday afternoon for the Annual Parish Christmas Fair, between 2-5pm.

Ballymacarbry Ladies – Best wishes to Miss Boyce and her Ballymacarbry Lady colleagues as they take on the Ulster Champions, Clann Éireann this Sunday in their home grounds in Co. Armagh at 1:30pm. Beir bua!

Is mise,

Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

BOM – Hopefully by now all ballots have been returned for the BOM election. Votes will be counted on Monday. Please have outstanding ballots in the school post box by Monday morning.

PTM’s – These will take place on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. The format is as follows; Wednesday 29^th Nov (Ahearne – Mulcahy inclusive) & Thursday 30^th Nov (Norris – White) Most teachers will be situated either in the Halla or the classrooms near the main entrance.

Green Schools – A huge thank you to Albert Nolan from the National Heritage Council who visited our school on Tuesday and Wednesday. Albert took all classes out in turn to help them to become more aware of biodiversity within our school grounds. He taught the children about our school plants; he showed them a bat and also how to create their own biodiversity trail. It was very beneficial towards attaining our next Green Flag on biodiversity.

Grow in Love Mass – Miss O’Keeffe’s Rang 2 will participate in a pre-communion mass this weekend at Fourmilewater Church. Families are kindly asked to be in church by 8:50 am please. Please follow instructions from Miss O’Keeffe.

Reminder – School will be closed on Thursday 7^th December to facilitate staff in-service.

Photography – Ray Power has collected all the family photograph envelopes and will be in touch with us once finalised. Thanks for your help in this regard.

Toy Show – Bainígí taitneamh as an ‘Toy Show’ ar an teilifís níos déanaí.

Is mise,

Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal.

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

B.O.M. – Ballot papers have been distributed this week. Information in relation to the election of the Mothers Representative on the BOM is contained within this pack. Please complete ballot paper(s) and return in the envelope provided to the school by Friday 24^th November.

Parent Teacher Meeting – Information in relation to our upcoming PTM was distributed to each family this week. The format for this year’s event is as follows; Wednesday 29^th Nov (Ahearne – Mulcahy inclusive) & Thursday 30^th Nov (Norris – White) Please familiarise yourself with detail contained within the pack.

H.S.E. – MMR has been rescheduled for Monday 4^th December owing to Storm Debi. Juniors will also be screened for Sight and Hearing on Monday 18^th December in school.

Maths Curriculum Day – Reminder, our Primary Maths Curriculum Day has been scheduled for Thurs 7^th Dec. The school will be closed to pupils on that day, but the attached Breakfast Club and After School Service will run between 8-2pm.

Photography – We have distributed family packs to all families. If you decide to order, please put family name, pack chosen and amount enclosed on the white envelope provided. Families can also order class grouping photos by completing the box on the reverse of the envelope. Please return envelopes by Wednesday 22^nd November next at latest. No compulsion to purchase.

Science Week – Pupils and their teachers have been partaking in all things science this week to mark Science Week

Balance Bikes – Nice to have use of the balance bikes from Waterford Sports Partnership for these next few weeks. They will undoubtedly aid the development of early cycling skills among our infants.

Christmas Annuals – Thanks for the great response. These annuals have now been ordered and we expect delivery around mid-December. Please ensure that you have paid the €3 per annual charge.

Ballymac Footballers – Thanks to the ladies who called to us on Monday last with the Munster Club Trophy. Best wishes to them in the All-Ireland Semi-Final in early December.

PJ Day – Today is National Pyjama Day. As a school we participated. The P.A. has asked that a contribution be sought from families for the local Playground Committee, from the proceeds of this event. A total of €357 has been collected for this worthwhile cause. We have passed on this money to the P.A. today. Well done to pupils, parents and staff alike for celebrating the spirit of the day.

Is mise,

Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

BoM – Ballot papers for the Mothers Panel will issue next week with further instructions. Brendan O’Brien has been deemed elected as Fathers Representative, due to being to sole nominee.

Ray Power Photography – Ray & Caroline Power called to us on Thursday morning on their biennial visit. They captured photos of families and class grouping. We will pass on purchasing options as soon as they revert to us.

MMR – HSE staff will be on site next Monday to administer MMR for junior infant pupils.

Parent Teacher Meetings – Our PTM’s will be held on the last Wednesday & Thursday of November at the school between 3:10 pm – 5:10 pm each evening. It will be staged alphabetically in the following format;

Wed 29^th Nov (Ahearne – Mulcahy inclusive) & Thurs 30^th Nov (Norris – White)

A more detailed note will issue to all families next week, specifying all staff to meet on the particular day.

Maths Curriculum Day – The Dept of Education has informed us that our school staff will have an in-service day on the implementation of the new Primary Maths Curriculum in Waterford on Thurs 7^th Dec. The school will be closed to pupils on that day. The attached Breakfast Club & After School Service will remain open between the hours of 8am – 2pm. (Phone Helen on 083 2028749 for further information.)

Dates for your Diary – It has been decided to hold two local Carol Services in advance of Christmas this year. One for the junior side of the school and one for the senior side. The details are as follows;

Jun Infants to Rg 2 – Thurs 14^th Dec – Nire Church @ 7pm,

Rg 3 to Rg 6 – Thurs 21^st Dec – FMW Church @ 7pm.

Christmas Jumpers are encouraged for these events. Please note that the P.A. is planning a Christmas jumper exchange along the lines of the normal uniform exchange, prior to this event. More details from PA to follow.

Christmas Annuals – Thanks to those families who used the link to order Christmas annuals. I insert the link here again for those who may have forgotten to do so. Please use link, only once per family. We will submit our order early next week. Christmas Annuals Order Form

Smart phones in School – There is a lot of media attention on this matter nationally at this time. Just to remind families that our policy is that, children are not permitted to bring mobile phones of any type, to our school.

PJ Day – In association with the P.A. we will participate in National Pyjama Day, on Fri 17^th Nov. In its short 20-year history over €4 million has been raised for children. The P.A. has asked that a contribution be sought for the local Playground Committee, from the proceeds of this event. This is entirely optional and school will proceed as normal with merely an alternative uniform on Friday next.

Ireland’s Fittest Family – Well done to our past pupils, the Peters family on winning their heat and qualifying for the Quarter Final of Ireland’s Fittest Family recently. Maith sibh Louise, Cody, Reece and Summer.

Beir Bua – Best wishes to Ballymac Ladies, (Miss Boyce and her team mates,) when they take on The Banner of Clare in the Munster Senior Club Football Final in Mallow GAA Grounds at 3:15 pm this Sunday.

Is mise

Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Cumann na mBunscol GAA – Our girls contested the Western “A” Football Final on Thursday last against Scoil Gharbháin in Ballinameela. The Dungarvan school, who had many girls from Rg 6, were deserved winners on the day but our ladies showed great determination and fought till the end. Beidh lá eile ag an bPaorach. Thanks to all those who supported us on the line and our staff mentors.

Confirmation Date – At our midweek pre-confirmation ceremony, Fr Michael announced Wednesday 10^th April 2024 as Confirmation Day for both parishes. Ceremonies will commence at 12:30pm and 2:30 pm in both Fourmilewater and the Nire respectively.

BoM – Thank you parents for engaging with Stages 1 & 2. A vote for the Mothers’ Panel will take place upon our return in November. The three self-nominees have been seconded by peers to appear on the ballot. As there is only one person nominated for the Fathers’ Panel, he is deemed to be elected to the new Board of Management on 1/12/2023.

Ray Power Photography – Our school photographer calls every two years and this year he will visit us on Thursday 9^th November. On the day, he will take class and family photos, if requested. Both he and us will be in contact again on our first week back.

MMR – The information packs for the School Vaccination Programme 2023/24 for our current Junior Infant class were distributed on Wednesday last. Please, read and return by Friday 10^th November.

Busy Weekend – Best of luck to both male teams in the County Football Finals and also the Ladies in Muster Club action. Best wishes also to the Nire Valley Drop Committee.

Clonea Power Quiz – We sent three teams to this quiz last weekend. Well done to all including Ciarán, James, Harry & John from Rang 5, who took home 1^st prize.

Paul Brunnock Memorial Run – In keeping with all things Clonea, West Waterford Athletics Club is holding a memorial run in memory of our late colleague Paul on Sunday 4^th November along the Waterford Greenway. See link for further info Paul Brunnock Memorial Run Closing date next Wednesday.

Halloween Holidays. – Well done to all pupils who made the effort in getting Halloween ready today. They may come in handy for the P.A. event later on between 6:30 – 8 pm. I’m sure our social media page will relay some of those costumes later. School has closed for Halloween mid-term and will reopen on Mon 6^th Nov at 9:20 am. Oíche Shamhna shona daoibh go léir!

Is mise,

Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal